Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the year 2011 - the final has arrivedDownload file

NEW DELHI, 11 – 14 July: The moment has come. From around the globe, 34 of the world’s best bartenders have gathered amidst the thrilling backdrop of New Delhi, for the chance to win the most prestigious award of the liquid world.

Over the past eleven months, contenders from the most established and highly esteemed bars have been competing against their peers, each with the ambition to be crowned ‘Best bartender in the world’.

WORLD CLASS, a celebration of the flair, creativity and skill of the bartender, is an international, year-long training programme founded by DIAGEO RESERVE that elevates the craft of the profession and brings consumer trends to life in the greatest bars across the globe.

Now in its third year, the 2011 WORLD CLASS Global Final takes place in the vibrant city of New Delhi with an exciting and emerging fine drinking culture. Participants will compete in six challenges judged by leading gurus of the bartending industry - Dale DeGroff, Salvatore Calabrese, Peter Dorelli, Gary Regan, Daniel Estremadoyro and Hidetsugu Ueno. The challenges will reflect insights into current fine drinking trends and require bartenders to explore themes including gentleman’s drinks, Asian inspired food matching, classic & vintage drinks with a twist and female inspired cocktails.

Simon Difford, Founder of CLASS magazine and author of ‘diffordsguide’ explains: “The title of DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year is the ultimate prize in bartending. It represents the culmination of a year-long search for an individual that personifies modern mixology, complemented by some of the finest spirits ever produced.”

Speaking of his experiences following his being named DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year 2010, Erik Lorincz says: “Since winning WORLD CLASS, my career has skyrocketed and I have been propelled into the limelight. Clients constantly want to be served by the ‘Best bartender in the world’. I have had an incredible experience and been given amazing opportunities travelling the world with DIAGEO RESERVE. I have also worked with some of the greatest names in the business, created my own book with Simon Difford and seen my face appear across The World Class Collection in international airports. It has been a life-changing experience.”

Rudy Paoli, Managing Director, DIAGEO RESERVE closes: “Investing in on-trade is at the heart of DIAGEO RESERVE’s customer-focused strategy and WORLD CLASS is central to this, educating and inspiring talented bartenders around the world. By bringing together the leading cocktail gurus and the best bartending talent under one roof, WORLD CLASS is a platform for new fine drinking trends and classic recipes to evolve, which are brought to life for consumers through our unbeatable portfolio of luxury spirit brands.”